Olin College of Engineering (Needham, MA)

Olin is truly a unique place. It was founded in the mid-1990's with the last $400 million of the Olin Foundation that built science buildings on college campuses across the country. With only 350 students, it is a small specialized place where everyone is majoring in engineering. But, the school doesn't train engineers. They train engineering leaders, they say. This philosophy is reflected in the open, collaborative curriculum that encourages independent, systems-based thinking and effective communication. There are very few textbooks and 40% of the curriculum is hands-on. Professors have five year contracts and no tenure, so there is an emphasis on innovation. Innovation is also supported in the Foundry, an on-campus business incubator to help students get projects off the ground. Students can also cross-register at Babson College, a business-focused college on a conjoining campus, Wellesley, a nationally renowned women's college and Brandeis, a nearby small research institution. All of these colleges help improve the social life, as does the fact that 40% of Olin students are female, a very high percentage for an engineering program. Facilities are new and top-notch as are dorms. The price is right, too. All Olin students receive a half-tuition scholarship after running the gauntlet through their unique admissions process that brings all students to campus. In its short history, Olin has done an amazing job of attracting great students and establishing its reputation among employers and graduate schools. This would be a great place for creative engineers looking for a hands-on experience and a small non-traditional college environment. K